Planting projections hold surprises for U.S. tobacco growers

(Southeast Farm Press) When the National Agricultural Statistical Services of USDA issued its Prospective Plantings Report for 2012, it included some surprises.

Probably the biggest was that it projected the national burley crop will increase from 89,000 acres in 2011 to 94,700 acres this season, with big increases in Tennessee and Virginia.
Flue-cured plantings, on the other hand, are projected to be down six percent, from 206,700 down to 194,500 acres.
... All the secondary tobacco types are projected to be down modestly in acreage except the cigar types, which are projected up 11percent from 4,330 to 4,800 acres. Continued